Mercedes-Benz SLK250 Becomes the SLK300 (With a New Turbo Four!) for 2016

Alexander Stoklosa

Jun 16, 2015

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Lo! News from an oft-overlooked corner of Mercedes-Benz’s droptop lineup: For 2016, the SLK-class roadster drops its manual-transmission option—it was the only U.S.-spec Benz available with a stick—and swaps its standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine for a new (more powerful) turbo four. A new automatic transmission and a name change from SLK250 to SLK300 also accompany the changes.

It’s worth noting that the four-cylinder SLK’s new name will be short-lived, as next year the entire SLK lineup receives a refresh and transitions to the “SLC” moniker that’s more in line with Benz’s recently revised naming scheme. That means the SLK300 likely will become the SLC300 while the six-cylinder SLK350 will become the SLC350 and the SLK55 AMG will become the Mercedes-AMG SLC55. But that’s the 2017 model year; for 2016, the SLK300 inherits a new nine-speed automatic transmission and the same 2.0-liter turbo four fitted to the latest C-class. Official power numbers are not out yet, but expect the same 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque enjoyed by the C300. Those figures by the way, mark increases of 40 ponies and 44 lb-ft over the outgoing SLK250’s aging 1.8-liter turbo four.

While it might seem bland, the news is very good for the SLK, er, SLC. In a recent test of the now-defunct SLK250, we noted that the car nicely mimicked its classy older sibling, the SL-class, but that the experience was dulled somewhat by the old 1.8 engine. Boost built slowly, and the engine simply didn’t feel as sharp as other modern turbos. That should change, as the C-class’s all-new four-cylinder exhibits none of these bad behaviors. Pricing for the SLK300 increases a bit over that of the 2015 SLK250, starting at $47,925, a jump of $3120; the 2016 SLK350 is $60,125 (up $1550), while the SLK55 AMG increases to $73,525.